Door lock



J. H. ROETHEL Aug. 13, 1957 DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13,1953 INVENTOR. fii/f Fae/1:1

BY I

,777'0I71VEK 'Aug- 1957 J. H. ROETHEL 2,802,683

DOOR LOCK I Filed Feb. 13,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. JVr7Faeliel ITTaR/V X DOOR LUCK John H. Roethel, Coral Gables, Fia.,assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Application February 13, 1953, Serial No.336,674

16 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to latch mechanism forswinging doors, especially the doors of automobile or other vehiclebodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved doorlatch mechanism which will effectively meet various requirements formotor vehicle door locks yet which is characterized by simplificationand compactness in construction and which is relatively small, easy andeconomical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation, efiicientand durable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door latchmechanism having a rotatable latch device, such as a rotary multi-headedbolt, controlled by pivoted detent means or the like, the latchmechanism comprising operating control elements associated in such newand improved relation as to enable the above objec tives of theinvention to be accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forswinging or pivotally actuating the detent means to disengage the samefrom the latch device, such means including swinging lever means on oneside of the latch support, operable from the outside of the door, andshiftable link means on an angularly related side of the latch support,said link means being interposed between the lever means and the detentmeans for pivotally actuating the latter and being swingable into andout of operative relation to the detent means by manually operable meansat the inside of the door. A particular object in connection with thisaspect of the invention is to provide an inside manual operator,preferably remotely controlled, for actuating the detent means throughthe medium of said shiftable link means, the improved construction beingsuch that upon shifting said link means out of operative relation to thedetent means the inside manual operator is ineflective to actuate thedetent means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swinging levermeans operable from the outside of the door and a swinging lever meansoperable from the inside of the door, each lever means operating througha common shiftable member or slide for actuating the detent means todisengage the same from the rotatable latch device, said shi'ftablemember or slide, however, being mounted in such manner as to enable itto be moved out of and into operative relation to the detent means.Hence, when said shiftable member or slide is moved out of operativerelation to the detent means it may be freely shifted relative to thedetent means by either the inside or outside operated lever meanswithout actuating or disengaging the detent means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved doorlatch mechanism in which a rotary bolt or latch, a pivoted detent orholding means and an outside actuated lever means are mounted on thedoor jamb facing portion of the latch support, and in which a verticallyshittable swingable operating connection or coupling device and aninside actuated lever means are mounted on an inner or angular flangeportion of the support, said operating connection being interposed be-State Patent O tween each lever means and the detent means forselectively transmitting motion from the former to the latter and beingswingable in a direction longitudinally of the door out of and intooperative relation to the detent means and, when out of operativerelation, being. shiftable freely and generally vertically relative tothe detent means upon actuating either of the lever means. The foregoingimproved construction permits the outside actuated lever means and thedetent means to be positioned one above the other so as to swingpreferably in the same direction and permits a direct verticallyshiftable connection or coupling means to be interposed between theinside and outside operated lever means and the detent means, whichconnection or coupling can be swung out of operative relation to thedetent means by a suitable inside manually operable means, such as avertically shiftable rod or plunger accessible at the insideof the doorand which alone is effective to move said connection or coupling meansout of or into operative relation to the detent means.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile body equippedwith door locks constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantiallythrough lines 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the.

direction of the arrows and illustrating one embodiment of the inventionparticularly adapted for the rear doors of an automobile body.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating certain of the parts ina different position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating the rotary latch bolt andstriker or keeper in their relative positions when the door is fullyclosed.

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially through lines 7{7 of Fig. 8looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a secondembodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially through lines 88 of Fig. 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation illustrating the rotary latch bolt ofthe present embodiment and a keeper or striker device in their relativepositions when the door is fully closed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my ap-' plication SerialNo. 119,325 filed October 3, 1949, now abandoned.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,-

terminates in a transverse jamb edge 22 facing the fixed jamb face oredge 23 (Fig. 6) of the door frame post or body pillar.

The present latch device comprises a case plate 24..

provided with screw bosses 24a by means of which the case plate issecured to the inner side of the jamb portion 22 of the door. The caseplate terminates at its inner edge in a flange 25 facing the inner doorpanel 21. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatabletoothed latch or bolt 26 positioned at the outer face of the case plate24, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 27extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with abearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 27 is flattenedand extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatabletoothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 28 and is rivetedthereto.

The rotatable latch 26, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed with a number ofradially projecting tooth-like projections 26a, preferably six, whichare spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide ineffect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 28 is also formedaround its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments orprojections 28a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections26a of the bolt. Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 29 secured to thecase plate 24 is a swinging detent, pawl or dog which has an outwardlyand downwardly extending detent arm 30 cooperable with the teeth orprojections 28a of the ratchet member 28. This detent arm 30 isengageable with any one of the teeth 28a in the manner shown in Fig. 2to hold the ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 26 in locking positionagainst rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Thedetent also comprises an inwardly extending actuating arm 31 which isadapted to be swung downwardly by the inside and outside operators,hereinafter described, so as to raise the detent arm 30 out ofengagement with any one of the teeth 28a. it will be understood thatwhen the door is closed the bolt 26 is rotated by engagement with itsstriker or keeper thereby rotating the ratchet member 28 in acounterclockwise direction and pivotally actuating the detent. For thepurpose of eliminating any objectionable clicking noise as the end ofthe detent arm 30 drops between two adjacent teeth 28a of the ratchetmember, a rubber bumper 32 is mounted on the case plate 24 in positionto be engaged by the arm 31 of the detent slightly before the detent arm30 goes fully home. Thus, when the arm 31 strikes the bumper 32 the edge3th of the detent arm will be slightly spaced from the back edge 28b ofthe ratchet tooth thereby eliminating noise which would otherwise occurif the edge 30a contacted the edge 28b.

Associated with the detent is a detent actuating or release lever 33which is pivoted upon a shoulder rivet 34 secured to the case plate 24.This lever has a lever arm 35 extending inwardly toward the case plateflange 25 and a second lever arm 36 extending upwardly from the pivot 34and provided at its upper outer edge with a widened flange 36a.

The detent arm 30 is yieldingly urged toward the ratchet plate 28 bymeans of a coil spring 37 anchored at its inner end to a retainer 38lanced out of the case plate. This spring has a downwardly extending arm37a engageable with the outer edge of the detent arm 30 so as toyieldingly urge this arm in latching engagement with a .tooth 28a of theratcaet plate 23. The release lever 33 is yieldingly urged toward itsnormal position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a coil spring 39 of suitablestrength which has one end connected at 39a to the lever arm 36 and itsopposite end connected at 3917 to the case plate 24. The spring 39 thusresists swinging movement of the lever 33 in a clockwise direction andreturns the lever to its position shown in Fig. 2, this position beinggoverned by a stop 40 which is in the form of a lug or flange on thecase plate.

It will be noted that the lever arm 35 and the actuating arm 31 of thedetent are vertically spaced and extend inwardly toward the case plateflange 25 in corresponding directions. Motion from the lever arm 35 istransmitted to the detent arm 31 by means of a vertically shiftableoperating link or coupling member 41 which is pivotally supported ormounted in such manner that it may be swung into and out of operativerelation to the detent arm 31. This link or coupling member 41 has anaperture 42 to receive the inner end of the release lever arm 35, thelatter thus overlying and engaging the bottom edge of this aperture soas to permit the lever arm to shift the link 41 downwardly in accordancewith the downward swinging motion of the lever arm 35. The aperture 42is formed in an outward embossment 41a of the link .1. This link has anupward extension 41b having a sliding fit between the parallel sideflanges 43a of a link carrier 4-3. The carrier or support 43 for thelink 41 is pivoted on a shoulder rivet 44 secured to the case plateflange 25. The shank of this rivet or headed stud extends through avertical guide slot 45 in the link 41. The link is thus guided forvertical sliding movement on the pivoted carrier member 4-3 by the guidestud 44 and the flanged edges 43:: of the carrier member. The link isyieldingly urged toward its upper position shown in Fig. 3 by means of acoil spring 46 having its inner end anchored to a retainer 47 struck outfrom the case plate fiange'25. This spring has arm 46a which is anchoredat its end beneath a retainer lug 48 struck out from the link 41. Nearits lower end the link 41 has an inwardly embossed portion 41cterminating in a pair of outwardly offset projecting portions 41d and41a. The portion 41d overlies the detent arm 31 and the portion Me,which is offset outwardly of the portion 41d, extends down and overlapsthe side of the detent arm 31. The portion die is provided at its rearedge with an outwardly extending lug 41;, the purpose of which will helater described. From the foregoing it will be seen that when therelease lever arm 35 is swung downwardly the link 4-1 will be shifteddownwardly relative to the member 4-3 and the projecting foot portion41d by engagement with the detent arm 31 will swing the latterdownwardly thereby disengaging the detent arm 30 from the ratchet member2-3.

The present latch device is preferably operated from the inside of thedoor through the medium of a remote control mechanism comprising alongitudinally shiftable draft link 49 which is pivoted at 59 to thelower end of one arm 51a of a bell crank lever 51. This lever is pivotedon the shank of a shoulder rivet 52 secured to the case plate flange 25.The lever is provided with a projecting arm 51b overlying at its innerend the lug 41;) on the lower end of the coupling link 41. From thisconstruction it will be seen that when the draft link 49 is shifted tothe right in Fig. 3, as by turning the inside door handle, the lever arm511; will be swung downwardly into engagement with the lug 41;, therebyshifting the link 41 downwardly relative to the carrier member 43 andcausing the foot did on the link to engage the detent arm 31 and swingthe detent so as to disengage the same from the ratchet member 23. Itwill be noted that the lever arm 51b terminates short of the detent arm31 so that disengagement of the detent by swinging the inside operatedlever 51 is accomplished solely through the vertically slidable link 41.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention meansoperable from the inside of the door is provided for pivotally moving orswinging the operating link 41 into and out of operative relation to thedetent arm 31, this being accornpiished in the present instance byswinging the carrier member 43 about its pivot 44. The member 43 isprovided with a downwardly projecting angular extension 4312 formed onits lower end with spaced ears 53 to receive the rounded end 54a of alever arm 54 formed as a part of a lever 55 pivotally mounted on theshank of the shoulder rivet or stud 52. The lever 55 has a second leverarm 55a to the end of which is pivotally connected a verticallyshiftable rod or plunger 56 which extends upwardly through the garnishmolding at the inner side of the glass panel of the door. This rodcarries at its end a knob 57 which may be manipulated at the inside ofthe door to shift the rod 56 vertically in either direction, therebyrocking the lever 55 and causing the rounded end 54a of the lever arm 54to engage one or the other of the ears 53 on the extension 4312 andswing this extension from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 4 and vice versa. By thus swinging the carrier member 43through the medium of the lever 55 the operating link 41 willcorrespondingly be swung from its position shown in Fig. 3 to theposition shown in Fig. 4 and vice versa. The aperture 42 in the link issuitably dimensioned to permit the link to swing relatively to the endof the lever arm 35, this construction in effect providing anarticulated connection between the lever arm 35 and the operating link41 by means of which the lever arm may shift the link downwardly whenthe link is either in its position shown in Fig. 3 or its position shownin Fig. 4. The lever 55 is yieldingly held in either of its positionsshown in Figs. 3 and 4 by means of a snap-over spring 58 of suitablestrength attached at one end to an extension 55b of the lever 55 and atits opposite end to the case plate flange 25. When the member 43 andoperating link 41 are swung to the position shown in Fig. 4, the limitof this swinging motion is governed by a stop lug 59 struck out from thecase plate flange 25 and positioned for engagement by the side of themember 43.

It will be noted that the detent arm 31 is adapted to swing downwardlyrelatively to the operating foot portion 41d on the link 41. By thisconstruction the door may be closed without disturbing the inside andoutside detent operating means since the operation of closing the doorwill result in rotating the ratchet member 28 and pivotally actuatingthe detent so as to swing the detent arm 31 downwardly and relatively tothe operating link 41. This operation will occur regardless of whetherthe operating link 41 is in its operative position shown in Fig. 3 or inits inoperative position shown in Fig. 4. It will be apparent that, ifthe rod or plunger 56 is shifted downwardly when the door is in its openposition so as to move the link 41 to its position shown in Fig. 4, thelink 41 will remain in this position after the door has been closed,thus ensuring that the door cannot be opened by manual operation eitherof the lever 35 from the outside of the door or the lever 51 from theinside of the door. Thus, with the operating link 41 in its inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 4, the door can only be unlocked by shifting therod or plunger 56 upwardly so as to restore the link 41 to its operativeposition shown in Fig. 3. As will be readily understood from Fig. 4,downward swinging motion of the lever arm 51b, as by turning the insidedoor handle, or downward swinging motion of the lever arm 35, as byactuation of the outside push button control, will result in shiftingthe link 41 downwardly past the detent arm 31 and free of engagementtherewith. Hence, the door cannot be opened either from the outside orthe inside when the operating link 41 is shifted by the rod 56 and lever55 to its position illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the present embodiment of the invention a push or plunger typeoutside operator is provided for swinging the detent release lever 33 soas to raise the detent arm 39 out of engagement with the teeth 28a ofthe ratchet member 28 to permit the door to be opened. A handle 68 isrigidly secured to the outside door panel 28, this handle having at oneend a transverse opening 60a to receive a push button 61 which isslidable in and out within the end of the handle between predeterminedlimits. The push button is held within the opening 68a against rotationby means of upper and lower keys 62 fitting into keyways 63 in thehandle. Interposed between the push button and a cover plate 64,fastened by screws to the handle 60, is a light helical spring 65 whichserves to return the push button to its normal position shown in Fig. 2.Fixed to and projecting from the push button 61 is a flat metal stem orshaft 66 which passes freely through an aperture 67 in the cover plate64. Adjustably mounted on the end of the stem 66 is a thrust oractuating element 68, this element having a flat sided hole into whichthe stem 66 extends. The thrust element 68 is slidable on the stem 66and is secured to the stem in any fixed adjusted position by means of aset screw 69 threaded through a tapped hole in the element 68 andengageable with the flat vertical side of the stem. Upon pushing thebutton 61 inwardly to shift the stem 66 inwardly the element 68 by engagement with the flange 36a on lever 33 will swing the lever and causethe lever arm 35 to shift the operating link 41 downwardly.

It is desirable for efiicient and safe operation of the latch mechanismthat the thrust element 68 substantially contact the flange 36a of thelever 33 when the latter is in its normal retracted position shown inFig. 2. If after installation the element 68 is positioned too far tothe right in Fig. 2, it will hold the lever arm 36 inwardly of itsnormal position resulting in holding the detent arm 30 raised somewhatout of normal engagement with a tooth 28a.

2, there may be sufficient lost motion to prevent the thrust element,upon pushing in the push button 61,

from swinging the lever 33 sufliciently to disengage the detent arm 30from a tooth 28a. 7

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the relation of the outsideoperator, such as push button 61, to the lever 33 after installation ofthe handle 60 and latch mechanism on the door is important in ensuringsafe and efiicient operation of the latch mechanism. Due. tomanufacturing tolerances, inaccuracies and variations not only in thehandle assembly and latch mechanism but also in the door panelstructure, it is important that provision be made to compensate for suchtolerances, inaccuracies and variations so that a predeterminedoperative relationship can be ensured between the outside operator andthe detent release means. This may be readily accomplished in accordancewith the present invention by enabling adjustment of the element 68longitudinally of the stem 66 from the outside of the door jamb afterinstallation of the handle assembly and latch mechanism on the door. Ahole of suitable size is pierced in the door jamb member 22 opposite theset screw 69. A screw driver may be inserted through this hole oraperture and operated to loosen the set screw 69 and then shift theelement 68 on the stem 66 so as to position it in contact with theflange 36a. the set screw is tightened to secure the element 68 inproperly adjusted fixed position.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rotary toothed latch orbolt 26 is actuated when the door is closed by means of a striker orkeeper member 88 which overlies the latch bolt 26 when the door is inclosed position. The keeper member 88 forms the overhanging top portionof a unitary frame member 89 of generally 0- shape in cross-section,this frame member 89 being secured by means of screws 90 to the jambface of the door pillar 23. The overhanging striker or keeper portion ofthe frame member 89 is formed at its lower edge with two integral spacedtooth-like projections 91 and 92 with which the teeth 26a of the latchbolt mesh to hold the door in either a final or safety locking position.When an adjacent pair of teeth 26a embrace and engage the tooth 91 thedoor is in safety locking position, and when an adjacent pair of teeth26a engage and embrace the tooth 92 as shown in Fig. 7, the latch boltis in final engagement with the tooth 92 of the striker or keeper On theother hand, if the element 68' is positioned, after installation, toofar to the left in Fig.

Thereupon and to prevent vertical movement of the door during operationof the vehicle, cooperating wedge members are provided on the door andbody pillar. In the present instance a wedge member 53 is slidablymounted on the bottom surface 94 of the opening in the C-shaped framemember 89. This wedge member is guided in its sliding movement by a rod95 secured at its outer end to an abutment 89:: on the frame member 89and at its rear end to the back wall of this member. In order toresiliently urge the wedge member 93 in an outward direction along itssupporting surface 94 a coil spring 96 is mounted on the rod 95 andextends into a recess in the wedge member, the spring being interposedbetween the base of the recess and the back wall of the frame 89.

The cooperating wedge member on the door comprises a casing 97 which isrigidly secured to the jamb edge 22 of the door and which embraces thelower portion of the bolt 26. The bottom wall 98 of the casing 97 isarcuate in shape and is adapted to engage a correspondingly shapedcurved upper surface 93a of the wedge member 93 when the door is closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing construction that on closing thedoor the cooperative engagement of the curved bottom wall 98 of thecasing 97 with the correspondingly curved upper surface 93a of the wedge93 will result in taking up any play between the latch bolt and strikertooth 92, thus ensuring tight and final engagement of the bolt andstriker when the door is fully closed.

For most efficient operation the latch bolt and keeper are arranged sothat the path or travel of the latch bolt is substantially at rightangles to the hinge axis of the door. It will be readily seen that anyvariations in this angular relationship will be compensated for in thepresent device without impairing the efiiciency of operation since thearcuate bottom wall 93 of the wedge casing 97 will cooperate effectivelywith the correspondingly curved surface 93a of wedge 93 regardless ofvariations in the relationship of the hinge axis of the door to thestriker body 89.

The latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in Figs. to 9 inclusive comprises a case plate 100provided with screw bosses by means of which the case plate is adaptedto be secured to the inner side of the jamb portion of a door. The caseplate terminates at its inner edge in a flange llll adapted to face theinner door panel. The latch mechanism is preferably provided with arotatable toothed latch or bolt 1G2 positioned at the outer face of thecase plate 100, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaftor shank 1113 extending through an aperture in the case plate which isformed with a hearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 103is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in arotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 104 and isriveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 1112, as shown in Fig. 9, is formed with a number ofradially projecting tooth-like projections 162a, preferably five, whichare spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide inefiect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 1% is also formedaround its periphery with a number of toothlike abutments or projections1114a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 192a ofthe bolt. Pivotally mouned on a shoulder rivet 1 35 secured to the caseplate 109 is a swingable detent, pawl or dog which has a downwardlyextending arm 1136 cooperable with the detent or projections 194a of theratchet member 1134. This detent arm 186 is engageable with any one ofthe teeth 194a in the manner shown in Fig. 8 to hold the ratchet memberand, hence, the bolt 1112 in looking position against rotation in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. The detent also comprises aninwardly extending actuating arm 107 which is adapted to be swungdownwardly by the inside and outside operators, hereinafter described,so as to. raise the detent arm 1% out of engagement with any one of theteeth 104a. It will be' understood that when the door is closed the bolt102 is rotated by engagement with its striker or keeper thereby rotatingthe ratchet member 1114 in a counterclockwise direction and pivotallyactuating the detent.

Associated with the detent is a detent actuating member or release lever1% which is pivoted upon a shoulder rivet 1G9 secured to the case plate100. This lever has a lever arm 11th extending inwardly toward the caseplate flange 1&1 and a second lever arm 111 extending upwardly from thepivot N9 and provided at its upper outer edge with a widened flange111a.

' The detent arm 1% is yieldingly urged toward the ratchet plate 104through the action of a coil spring 112. The coil spring 112 is anchoredat its inner end in a slot or kerf 113 notched in the pivot stud 109 andhas a downwardly extending arm 112a engageable with a projection 114- onthe detent so as to yieldingly urge the detent in a counterclockwisedirection and therefore the detent arm 106 in latching engagement with atooth 164a of the ratchet plate 1134. It will be noted that the leverarm and the actuating arm 107 of the detent are vertically spaced andextend inwardly toward the case plate flange 101 in correspondingdirections. Motion from the lever arm 110 is transmitted to the detentarm 107 by means of a vertically shiftable operating link or couplingmember 115 which is pivotally supported or mounted in such manner thatit may be swung into and out of operative relation to the detent arm107. This link or coupling member 115 has an embossed or channel shapedprojection 116 adapted to underlie the inner end of the release leverarm 119 so as to permit the lever arm to shift the link 115 downwardlyin accordance with the downward swinging motion of the lever arm 11%.The link is pro vided with a vertical guide slot 117 adapted to receivea shoulder stud 118 by means of which the link is secured to the caseplate flange 1111. The link is thus guided for vertical sliding movementand for pivotal movement on the case plate flange 191 by the shoulder orguide stud 113. The link is yieldingly urged toward its upper positionshown in Fig. 12 by means of a coil spring 119 having its inner endanchored to a retainer 121? struck out from the case plate flange 101.This spring has an arm 1190 which is seated within the embossed orchannel shaped projection 116 on the link 115. Near its lower end thelink 115 has an inwardly embossed portion 121 terminating in a pair ofoutwardly offset portions 122 and 122a. The portion 122 overlies thedetent arm 107 and the portion 122a, which is offset outwardly of theportion 122, extends down and overlaps the side of the detent arm 197.The portion 122a is provided at ts lower edge with a lug 122k extendingupwardly from the flange, the purpose of which will be later described.From the foregoing it will be seen that when the release lever arm 110is swung downwardly the link 115 will be shifted downwardly and theprojecting foot portion 122 thereon by engagement with the detent arm1%7 will swing the detent thereby disengaging the detent arm 1% from theratchet member 104.

The present latch mechanism is preferably operated from the inside ofthe door through the medium of a remote control mechanism comprising alongitudinally shiftable draft link 123 which is pivoted at 124 to thelower end of one arm 125a of a bell crank lever 125. This lever ispivoted on a shoulder rivet 126 secured to the case plate flange 101.The lever is provided with a projecting arm 1255 overlying at its innerend the lug 12221 on the lower end of the coupling link 115. From thisconstruction it will be seen that when the draft link 123 is shifted tothe right in Fig. 7, as by turning the inside door handle, the lever arm125!) will be swung downwardly into engagement with the lug 122b,thereby shifting the link 115 downwardly and causing the foot orprojection 122 on the link to engage the detent arm 107 and swing thedetent so as to disengage the same 9 from the ratchet member 104. Itwill be noted that the lever arm 12512 terminates short of the detentarm 107 so that disengagement of the detent by swinging the insideoperated lever 125 is accomplished solely through the vertical slidablelink 115.

In accordance with the present invention means operable from the insideof the door is provided for pivotally moving or swinging the operatinglink 115 into and out of operative relation to the detent arm 107, thisbeing accomplished in the present instance by swinging the link 115about the shoulder stud 118. A bell crank lever 127 is pivotally mountedon a pivot stud 128 to the case plate flange 101 at the upper endthereof. The bell crank lever 127 has a downwardly extending arm 127aadapted to overlie the upper end of the link 115. A stud 129 is mountedin the lower end of the arm 127 in such a manner as to project into theslot 117 in the upper end of the link 115. Upon the bell crank arm 127abeing swung in a clockwise direction the link 115 will be swung aboutits pivot axis in a counterclockwise direction thus shifting the lowerend 122 of the link 115 out of abutting relation to the detent arm 107.The bell crank lever arm 127a has a horizontally extending portion 12711to which is pivotally connected a horizontally shiftable rod 130 whichis adapted to be shifted by means accessible at the garnish molding atthe inner side of the glass chan' nel of the door. The rod 130 may beshifted horizontally in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 127and causing the stud 129 on the lever arm 127a to swing the link fromits position as shown in Fig. 7 to a position in which the foot portion122 is out of abutting relation to the detent arm 107. The lever 127 isyieldingly held in either its position shown in Fig. 7 or its displacedposition by means of a snap-over spring 131 of suitable strengthattached at one end to a horizontally extending portion 1270 and at itsopposite end to the case plate flange 101. When the operating link 115is swung from its position shown in Fig. 7 to the position in which thefoot portion 122 thereon is out of abutting relation to the detent arm197, the limit of the swinging movement is governed by a suitable lug132 struck-out from the case plate flange 101 and positioned forengagement by the side of the embossed portion 121 of the link.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rotary toothed latch rbolt 102 is shown in engagement with a striker or keeper member 133 ofdifferent construction than that shown with the previous embodiments. Ingeneral, the keeper or striker 133 comprises a C-shaped structure havingupper and lower body portions 134 and 135. The lower body portion 135 isformed at its lower edge with depending tooth-like projections 136 and137 with which the teeth 102a of the latch bolt 102 mesh to hold thedoor in either final or safety locking position. When an adjacent pairof teeth 102a embrace and engage the tooth 136 the bolt is in safetylocking position, and when an adjacent pair of teeth 102a embrace thetooth 137, as shown in Fig. 9, the bolt is in final locking position.

The upper surface 138 of the lower body portion 134. forms a slightlyinclined ramp engageable by a suitably contoured dovetail or abutment139 fastened to the outer face of the case plate 190. A yieldablewedging means is carried on the underside of the upper body portion 135of the striker device and engages the upper surface of the dovetail orabutment 139 to firmly hold the door against vibratory movement in avertical plane. The wedging means in the present instance comprises awedge block 149 controlled by a compression spring 141, the wedge blockand spring being slidably retained within a recess 142 by means of aguide rod 143 fastened to the end walls of the recess 151. The spring141 is mounted under initial compression and constantly urges the wedgeoutwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 9. During closing movement ofthe door the wedge block 140 is engaged by the upper surface of thedovetail and is carried inwardly to some extent against the action ofthe spring. As the vehicle body vibrates during motion of the vehicleover the road surface, the wedge block will constantly tend to tightenitself against the upper surface of the abutment 139 and, hence,maintain the bolt 102-firmly in engagement with the tooth 137 on thestriker thus minimizing the possibility of vibratory movement of thedoor in a vertical direction.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, link means, pivoted mounting meansmounting said link means on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement with said mounting means about a fixed axis and forshiftable movement relative to said mounting means, said mounting meansincluding guide means restricting said link means to such shiftablemovement at all times along a line which passes through said fixed axis,inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portionand having a part engageable with said link means for shifting the samealong said line, said detent means having a part engageable by said linkmeans for pivotally actuating said detent means upon operating saidinner manually operable lever means, and means mounted on said otherplate portion and having a part operative to pivotally move said linkmeans out of engaging relation to said part of the detent means.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, link means, pivoted mounting meansmounting said link means on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement with said mounting means about a fixed axis and forshiftable movement relative to said mounting means, said mounting meansincluding guide means restricting said link means to such shiftablemovement at all times along a line which passes through said fixed axis,outer manually operable means mounted on said one plate portion andhaving a part engageable with said link means for shifting the samealong said line, inner manually operable lever means mounted on saidother plate portion and having a part engageable with said link meansfor shifting the same along said line, said detent means having a partengageable by said link means for pivotally actuating said detent meansupon operating either of said manually operable means, and means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part operative to pivotallymove said link means out of engaging relation to said part of the detentmeans.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier memberfor swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in avertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier memberrestricting said transmitting member to shiftable movement in thedirection of a single longitudinal axis of said carrier member, innermanually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plateportion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of saidtransmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one directionupon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an armextending toward said other plate portion of the support and having apart arranged inopposing relation to another part of said transmittingmember and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting memberlongitudinally of said carrier member thereby to pivotally actuate saiddetent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and innermanually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby toswing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts ofthe transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relationwhereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detentarm without engaging the same.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier memberfor swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in avertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier memberrestricting said transmitting member to shittable movement in thedirection of a single longitudinal axis of said carrier member, innermanually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plateportion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of saidtransmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one directionupon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an armextending toward said other plate portion of the support and having apart arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmittingmember and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting memberlongitudinally of said carrier member thereby to pivotally actuate saiddetent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and innermanually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby toswing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts ofthe transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relationwhereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detentarm without engaging the same, said lever arm portion and said one partof the transmitting member and said opposing parts of the detent arm andtransmitting member being disposed below the locality of the pivot ofsaid carrier member.

5. in a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion or the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement, a longitudinally extending transmitting membermounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith andshiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, meanson said carrier member maintaining said transmitting member in alignmentwith said carrier member so that the longitudinal axis of the one is atall times coincident with the longitudinal axis of the other, innermanually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plateportion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of saidtransmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one directionupon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an armextending toward said other plate portion of the support and having apart arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmittingmember and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting memberthereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the samefrom said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swingingsaid carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into aposition in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent armare out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may beshifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable With said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other or" said plate portions forswinging movement, a longitudinally extending transmitting membermounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith andshiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, meanson said carrier member maintaining said transmitting member in alignmentwith said carrier member so that the longitudinal axis of the one is atall times coincident with the longitudinal axis of the other, innermanually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plateportion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of saidtransmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one directionupon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an armextending toward said other plate portion of the support and having apart arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmittingmemher and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmember therebyto pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from saidlatch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging saidcarrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a positionin which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out ofopposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shiftedrelatively to the detent arm without engaging the same, said lever armportion and said one part of the transmitting member and said opposingparts of the detent arm and transmitting member being disposed below thelocality of the pivot of said carrier member.

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a retatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier memberfor swinging movement therewith about a common pivot axis and shiftablelongitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, guide rails onsaid carrier member restricting said transmitting member to shiftablemovement in the direction of a single longitudinal axis of said carriermember, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on saidother plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one partof said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in onedirection upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having anarm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and havinga part arranged in opposing relation to another part of saidtransmitting member and engageable thereby upon shifting of saidtransmitting member longitudinally of said carrier member thereby topivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from saidlatch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging saidcarrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a positionin which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out ofopposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shiftedrelatively to the detent arm without engaging the same.

8. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carriermember pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions forswinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier memberfor swinging movement therewith about a common pivot axis, means on saidcarrier member for guiding said transmitting member for movement in avertical direction relative thereto, inner manually operable lever meanspivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portionengageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the samevertically in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detentmeans having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of thesupport and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another partof said transmitting memher and engageable thereby upon shifting of saidtransmitting member vertically thereby to pivotally actuate said detentmeans and disengage the same from said latch device, inner manuallyoperable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing saidtransmitting member into a position in which said parts of thetransmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation wherebysaid transmitting member may be shifted vertically relatively to thedetent arm without engaging the same, Said lever arm portion and saidone part of the transmitting member and said opposing parts of thedetent arm and transmitting member being disposed below the locality ofthe pivot of said carrier member.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latchdevice for holding the same in door latching position, said detent meanshaving an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support,a detent actuating member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onsaid other plate portion for swinging movement about a fixed axispositioned above said detent means arm from a first position to a secondposition and vice versa and also for shiftable movement relatively tothe pivotal mounting thereof along a line which at all times passesthrough said fixed axis, said actuating member having a lower endportion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate saiddetent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftablemovement of said actuating member in one direction, inner manuallyoperable lever means mounted on said other plate portion cooperable withthe lower end portion of said detent actuating member for shifting thesame along said line, and means mounted on said other plate portion andhaving a part engageable with said detent actuating member above itspivot axis and operative to pivotally move said detent actuating memberlower end portion out of engaging relation to said detent means arm.

10. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latchdevice for holding the same in door latching position, said detent meanshaving an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support,a detent actuating member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onsaid other plate portion for swinging movement about a fixed axispositioned above said detent means arm from a first position to a secondposition and vice versa and also for shiftable movement relatively tothe pivotal mounting thereof along a line which at all times passesthrough said fixed axis, said actuating member having an end portioncooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate said detentmeans to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftablemovement of said actuating member in one direction, outer manuallyoperable means for shifting said detent actuating member along said linein said one direction, inner manually operable lever means mounted onsaid other plate portion and having a part engageable with said detentactuating member end portion for shifting the same along said line insaid one direction, and means mounted on said other plate portion andhaving a part engageable with said detent actuating member above itspivot axis and operative to pivotally move said detent actuating memberend portion out of engaging relation to said detent means arm.

11.. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, said detent means having an armextending toward said other plate portion of the support, a detentactuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plateportion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member forpivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on saidother plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivotpin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and alsofor shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to saidpivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating memberwhich line at all times passes through said axis, said actuating memberhaving a portion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotallyactuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch deviceupon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, aninner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portionfor shifting said detent actuating member in said one direction, andinner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted onsaid other plate portion and having a pin engageable with said guideslot above said pivot pin for swinging said actuating member from saidfirst position to said second position wherein said detent actuatingmember is out of engaging relation with said detent means arm.

12. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latchdevice for holding the same in door latching position, said detent meanshaving an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support,a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said otherplate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating memberfor pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends onsaid other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of saidpivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa andalso for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively tosaid pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuatingmember which line at all times passes through said axis, said actuatingmember having an end portion cooperable with said detent means arm topivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from saidlatch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in onedirection, an inner manually operable lever means mounted on said otherplate portion for shifting said actuating member in said one direction,and inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted onsaid other plate portion and engageable with said actuating member abovesaid pivot pin for swinging the same from said first position to saidsecond position wherein said detent actuating member is out of engagingrelation with said detent means arm.

13. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a detent actuating member, meanscomprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within aguide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting saidactuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion forswinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first positionto a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement ineither of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a lineextending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at alltimes passes through said axis, aid actuating member having a portioncooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate said detent meansto disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement ofsaid actuating member in one direction, inner manually operable meansmounted on said other plate portion for shifting said detent actuatingmember in said one direction, and inner manually operable meansincluding a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion andhaving a pin engageable with said guide slot above said pivot pin forswinging said actuating member from said first position to said secondposition wherein said detent actuating member is out of engagingrelation with said detent means.

14. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a detent actuating member, meanscomprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within aguide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting saidactuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion forswinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first positionto a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement ineither of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a lineextending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at alltimes passes through aid axis, said actuating member having a lower endportion cooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate saiddetent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftablemovement of said actuating member in one direction, inner manuallyoperable means mounted on said other plate portion for shifting saidactuating member in said one direction, and inner manually operablemeans engageable with said actuating member at the upper end portionthereof for swinging the same from said first position to said secondposition wherein said detent actuating member lower end portion is outof operating relation to said detent means.

15. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent mean pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a detent actuating member, meanscomprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within aguide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting saidactuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion forswinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first positionto a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement ineither of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a lineextending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at alltimes passes through said axis, said actuating member having a lower endportion cooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate saiddetent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftablemovement of said actuating member in one direction, and inner manuallyoperable means for shifting said actuating member in said one directionthereby to disengage the detent means from said latch device.

16. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted onone plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesame in door latching position, a detent actuating member, means forpivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends forswinging movement from a first position to a second position and viceversa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positionsrelatively to the pivotal mounting of said References Cited in the fileof this patent UNlTED STATES lATENTS 2,249,018 Marple et al. July 15,1941 2,270,559 Rolph et al. Ian. 20, 1942 2,569,047 Endter Sept. 25,1951 2,608,429 Wise Aug. 26, 1952 2,641,495 Leslie et al. June 9, 19532,649,321 Smith Aug. 18, 1953

